Colossal Biosciensces' De-Extinction Program

[Endus]

We are the only example of a species who does that regularly.

Not even a little bit true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetic_hybrids

That is utter nonsense, how long ago doesn't mean they aren't related.

There's a huge amount of genetic divergence between the two. So much, the reason scientists were using paddlefish sperm in their experiments with Russian sturgeon as a control, under the assumption there was no possible way they could fertilize the sturgeon eggs.

And they did.

Also dogs ARE literally 'genetically modified' Wolves, we bred the Wolves for desirable traits.

In the same sense that human beings are "genetically modified" rodent-like animals, "bred" by natural selection for millions of years for successful traits. We're just quibbling about length of time and whether the selection pressures were natural or artificial.

They're not the same species any more. One population diverging from another into new species does not mean interbreeding is impossible. "Species" does not have a firm objective meaning in biology, because basically every "rule" we've come up with in trying to do so is violated by some set of species or another. Particularly as a single species is not static over its existence. It diversifies through mutation until the population is trimmed down through selection. The modern Coelacanth superficially resembles its ancient origins, but it's not the same critter and has changed in that timespan, and "Coelacanth" (Actinistia, properly) isn't a species in the first place; it's a class, several rungs higher up the taxonomic ladder. There's a ton of diversity in that lineage, even if only two species are known to have survived to exist today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth

[diller]

In the same sense that human beings are "genetically modified" rodent-like animals, "bred" by natural selection for millions of years for successful traits.

The dog, Canis familiaris, is a direct descendent of the gray wolf, Canis lupus: In other words, dogs as we know them are domesticated wolves. Not only their behavior changed; domestic dogs are different in form from wolves, mainly smaller and with shorter muzzles and smaller teeth.

Feel free to disagree, there is no need to reply to this.

[Gabriel]

Not even a little bit true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetic_hybrids



There's a huge amount of genetic divergence between the two. So much, the reason scientists were using paddlefish sperm in their experiments with Russian sturgeon as a control, under the assumption there was no possible way they could fertilize the sturgeon eggs.

And they did.



In the same sense that human beings are "genetically modified" rodent-like animals, "bred" by natural selection for millions of years for successful traits. We're just quibbling about length of time and whether the selection pressures were natural or artificial.

They're not the same species any more. One population diverging from another into new species does not mean interbreeding is impossible. "Species" does not have a firm objective meaning in biology, because basically every "rule" we've come up with in trying to do so is violated by some set of species or another. Particularly as a single species is not static over its existence. It diversifies through mutation until the population is trimmed down through selection. The modern Coelacanth superficially resembles its ancient origins, but it's not the same critter and has changed in that timespan, and "Coelacanth" (Actinistia, properly) isn't a species in the first place; it's a class, several rungs higher up the taxonomic ladder. There's a ton of diversity in that lineage, even if only two species are known to have survived to exist today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelacanth

I agree that speciation is a complex topic, and there are gorillion different ways to define what separates different species, but when we exit the world of science and enter the world of byrocracy on the topic of stuff like what could be considered a species for the sake of conservation efforts for example, we need some concrete definitions.

[username993720]

Not even a little bit true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genetic_hybrids

Do these occur without human intervention?

I agree that speciation is a complex topic, and there are gorillion different ways to define what separates different species, but when we exit the world of science and enter the world of byrocracy on the topic of stuff like what could be considered a species for the sake of conservation efforts for example, we need some concrete definitions.

Where i come from, we have jackals living alongside people in urban places (like parks and such). People sometimes feed them. I wonder how long it would take for one to produce a friendly offspring that would be considered a dog-like creature.

[Endus]

Do these occur without human intervention?

Feel free to read the actual link. There's a ton of hybridization that naturally occurs. The idea that species do not or can not interbreed naturally is simply factually incorrect.

That doesn't mean every species can interbreed with any other. It just means everything's way more complicated and there are no clear borders around any of these things. Concepts like "species" are human concepts trying to categorize things discretely when the concept of discreteness doesn't exist in nature.

[Gabriel]

Do these occur without human intervention?



Where i come from, we have jackals living alongside people in urban places (like parks and such). People sometimes feed them. I wonder how long it would take for one to produce a friendly offspring that would be considered a dog-like creature.

There have been experiments done on foxes where they selectively breed them for traits like friendliness towards humans (I can't remember the exact study), but it took only couple of generations to produce foxes that like to play with humans and are generally friendly, but they are not truly domesticated. I'm assuming turning something like wolves into modern dogs would take hundreds of generations to truly breed out aggression towards humans and make them "trainable" like dogs today.

[diller]

There have been experiments done on foxes where they selectively breed them for traits like friendliness towards humans

Well according to some they are no longer foxes at that point!



Anyway doing it with Foxes might not actually work since they don't have the pack mentality that wolves/dogs have so they would probably just end up a bit more cat like.

[username993720]

Feel free to read the actual link. There's a ton of hybridization that naturally occurs. The idea that species do not or can not interbreed naturally is simply factually incorrect.

That doesn't mean every species can interbreed with any other. It just means everything's way more complicated and there are no clear borders around any of these things. Concepts like "species" are human concepts trying to categorize things discretely when the concept of discreteness doesn't exist in nature.

I didn't think they couldn't. I just assumed they usually associate with their own kind. I guess animals are promiscuous, too. Now, i recall cases of brown bears mating with polar bears. But, as i said, these are kinda rare.

There have been experiments done on foxes where they selectively breed them for traits like friendliness towards humans (I can't remember the exact study), but it took only couple of generations to produce foxes that like to play with humans and are generally friendly, but they are not truly domesticated. I'm assuming turning something like wolves into modern dogs would take hundreds of generations to truly breed out aggression towards humans and make them "trainable" like dogs today.

Yeah, i know of that experiment. But, this was a controlled scenario. So, no natural domestication of wild canines in my time...

I also wonder, if we introduce apes to the conditions and circumstances of early humans, would they eventually develop in this way?

Well according to some they are no longer foxes at that point!

What makes them not foxes anymore?

[Shadowferal]

I'm reminded of an rpg advert; THE PERPETUAL PUPPY

Want to keep your kids happy all year long?
Guaranteed to stop aging after 3 months!
Choose from 7 dog breeds
Guaranteed life span of five years up or your money back.

[Nightmare Queen]

House hippos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBfi8OEz0rA

I loved this ad as a kid!

[Santti]

House hippos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBfi8OEz0rA

I'd like to see Oppih.

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

I'd like to see Oppih.

I mean, that's fine and all...but it just cannot compare to a hippo you can hide in a handbag.